The Official Forum - View Single Post - Batter's back foot is lined up behind home plate. Coach complains

PeteBooth · #3 (**permalink**) Fri Jul 20, 2001, 07:05am

Originally posted by Gre144

Today in my game a batter had his foot behind home plate. The coach complained that he can't put his foot there because it is part of the catcher's box. Is there anything illegal about the batter having his foot not on but behind home plate? In the scenario that I am speaking of, I would imagine that if the batter's box was perfectly drawn and visible, the back foot would be mostly outside the lines of the batter's box with the heal on the chalk line of the interior side (closest to the plate) of the batter's box.

I didn't really know what to say to the coach because 7-3-1 states that the batter only needs one foot in the batter's box. With this rule in mind, it would seem to me that if one foot is in the box, it doesn't matter if the back foot is either partially or completely out of the box just so long as, that at the time of the hit, he has at least both feet partially within the batter's box(so as not to be in violation of 7-3-2)

Greg, read FED rule 7-1-1

Each player of the team at bat shall become the batter and shall take his position within a batter's box, on either side of home plate.

Within the batter's box means that both feet have to be in the box prior to the pitch.

OBR Equivalent 6.03 The batter's legal position shall be with both feet within the batter's box

FED rule 7-3-1 is about delaying the game. In FED, which IMO the PROS should adopt, they do not want the batter constantly stepping out, getting the sign and dilly dallying.

FED rule 7-3-2 is referring to the batter hitting the ball.

However, when B1 first takes his position in the box he must be within meaning both feet have to be in the box.

Now reality: Most fields we umpire in are not properly lined, so you as the UIC use your best judgement as to where the lines are. If coach is giving you a hard time - warn and say coach there's no lines here and I'm using my best judgement. IMO, the coach is trying to goat you into a call in his favor. Once he knows you are not taking the bait , he will stop.

Pete Booth